Using the Probe Rules Syntax Checker

You can use the Probe Rules Syntax Checker to test the syntax of the rules file of any probe. This is more efficient than running the target probe to test the syntax of its rules file.

To run the Probe Rules Syntax Checker, use the following command:

nco_p_syntax -rulesfile rules_file_path

Where rules_file_path is the complete path of the rules file of the probe that you are testing.

The Probe Rules Syntax Checker always runs in debug mode. When the syntax checker starts, it reads the rules file, returns an exit code, displays any errors on the screen, and then exits.

If the syntax of the rules file is incorrect, the syntax checker returns an exit code of 1 and displays the errors on the screen. If the syntax of the rules file is correct, the syntax checker returns an exit code of 0 and displays no error messages. For details about probe rules file syntax, see the IBM Tivoli Netcool/OMNIbus Probe and Gateway Guide, (SC23-9684).

Note: The Probe Rules Syntax Checker can only check functions against the Netcool/OMNIbus library and not probe specific functions. For example, if you run the Probe Rules Syntax Checker against the rules file of the SNMP Probe (nco_p_mttrapd.rules), it displays errors relating to any snmpget() functions included in the rules file. This is because the snmpget() function is supported by the probe, but not by the Netcool/OMNIbus library against which the Probe Rules Syntax Checker checks. Such errors can be safely ignored.